Chapter 70 Hook
The fireworks that Zhou Chong brought were particularly beautiful, dazzling and brilliant like a waterfall.
It was like a meteor shower right in front of me.
"Wow, it's so beautiful!" Jiang Wan looked up at the night sky and couldn't help but exclaim.
Zhou Chong turned his head, looking at the dazzling lights illuminating her face, and smiled, "I'm glad you like it."
"Speaking of which, it's such a pity about our graduating class."
As the last firework faded, Jiang Wan turned her gaze away and looked at Zhou Chong beside her. "Our year can't even make it to the school's biennial fireworks and bonfire party."
Since its founding, Lincheng No.1 Middle School has held a fireworks and bonfire party for its senior students every New Year's Eve to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new, passing on the torch of knowledge and skills. It is both a celebration of the New Year and a way to cheer on students taking the college entrance examination.
However, in recent years, due to regulations on fireworks displays, the fireworks and bonfire festival has been changed to once every two years.
And they, the 2014 graduating class of high school, just missed it this year.
Zhou Chong paused for a moment. He hadn't originally felt it was a pity, but after hearing Jiang Wan's words, it seemed a bit of a pity.
“I’ve heard Luo Xuan say before that the fireworks and bonfire party is very lively. I’ve even seen the photos he took of the event back then. It was spectacular and beautiful.”
Jiang Wan has lived two lives and has never been able to attend a fireworks and bonfire party, which she finds truly regrettable.
Although in her previous life, when she was in her second year of high school, she had the privilege of witnessing this grand event from afar.
Because she lived close to the school, she was on her balcony when she saw the fireworks set off at school and could also faintly hear the lively bonfire relay ceremony.
But she never experienced it firsthand, let alone in this lifetime. She came back to the miserable senior year of high school and missed out on everything.
“Then let’s come back next year,” Zhou Chong suddenly said.
"Huh?" Jiang Wan was taken aback. "Wh...what do you mean?"
"Next New Year's Day, no, I should say this New Year's Eve," Zhou Chong said earnestly, "we'll come back to school for the fireworks and bonfire party."
Jiang Wan thought for a while before realizing that alumni who graduated in the last two years were allowed to return to school to participate in the fireworks and bonfire party. This was a humane rule that the school had specially relaxed because the event was held every two years.
However, there is a limit to the number of applicants, so you need to apply to the school in advance. If there are too many applicants, the school will conduct appropriate screening.
Of course, if she and Zhou Chong become students at Tsinghua University after this year's college entrance examination, they should be able to apply to return to their alma mater as outstanding graduates to participate in the fireworks and bonfire party without being screened out.
In her previous life, Sun Qianyu flew to Nancheng to find Jiang Shengming during the New Year's Day holiday for two consecutive years. No one accompanied Jiang Wan back, so she naturally didn't expect this.
What's the point of going back to your alma mater alone to watch fireworks and a bonfire?
It's pitiful just thinking about it.
But now, Zhou Chong is inviting her to come back together after graduation.
How could Jiang Wan possibly refuse?
She couldn't have gotten it.
"Okay." Jiang Wan nodded happily, and as if that wasn't enough, she extended her right little finger, "Let's pinky swear, it's a promise, no going back on it."
Zhou Chong chuckled and extended his right hand, hooking Jiang Wan's little finger with his own. "Yes, it's a promise, it won't change."
Their little fingers were hooked together and wiggled from side to side, but Jiang Wan was still reluctant to let go.
She gave a thumbs-up again, "Let's stamp it again."
It's like a child throwing a tantrum.
Zhou Chong chuckled and raised his thumb, "Okay, stamp it."
Jiang Wan grinned and pressed Zhou Chong's thumb against hers, then, as if in a playful mood, turned it and pressed it harder.
This made Zhou Chong unable to suppress a laugh.
Just as they were having a great time, the tips of their thumbs, which were touching, suddenly felt something cool.
Jiang Wan was stunned for a moment. The next moment, the back of her hand touched something cool, and then her forehead.
She then realized what was happening and looked up in surprise, "It's snowing."
The scattered, glistening snowflakes, bathed in the warm glow of the streetlights, drifted and swayed, taking on a pale golden hue.
It was like the end of that grand fireworks display.
Jiang Wan stood up excitedly, tilted her head back, and stretched out her hands to catch the falling snowflakes.
It rarely snows in the south, and even when it does, it's mostly sleet. The tiny crystals mixed in with the rain freeze into thin ice upon landing, making the roads slippery and adding to the burden on road maintenance, without any scenic value.
Pure snow like this only comes around once every few years, and even a light snowfall is enough to excite Jiang Wan.
Not being able to see the snow clearly in the darkness, she stood under a streetlamp, tilted her head back, followed the direction of the falling snow, and raised her hands to welcome the golden snowflakes that fluttered down on her.
Zhou Chong sat on a bench, quietly watching Jiang Wan play in the snow under the streetlights.
Behind her was an endless expanse of darkness, but the golden halo cast by the streetlights was like a spotlight piercing through the darkness, guiding his gaze and firmly locking onto that dazzling figure.
Jiang Wan wore a beige long down jacket with a belted waist. The hem of the coat resembled a slightly open skirt, which accentuated her slim waist and long legs.
The pale golden snowflakes fluttered down, reflecting her radiant smile under the streetlights, clear, captivating, and exceptionally bright.
She's so beautiful, like a princess straight out of a fairy tale.
Zhou Chong was somewhat lost in thought.
So much so that when Jiang Wan turned to walk towards him, he instinctively opened his arms.
By the time he realized what was happening, Jiang Wan was already standing in front of him, looking at him hesitantly, her hand still gesturing in the air.
Zhou Chong lowered his head slightly, fortunately his arms were not spread too wide.
He immediately lowered his hand. "What's wrong?"
“Oh, well, I wanted to say…” Jiang Wan saw him pull his arm back and also withdraw his hands that had been hesitatingly gesturing in the air. He glanced around casually, “…the snow seems to be falling harder and harder.”
Zhou Chong also looked up, observed the snowfall, then took out a short-handled folding umbrella from his bag and opened it over Jiang Wan's head. "Then you should go home early, otherwise the snow will get even heavier later."
Jiang Wan lowered her eyes, looking at Zhou Chong's cold, white fingers gripping the umbrella handle, still somewhat reluctant to go home so early.
The snow isn't very heavy yet, so can't we stay with Zhou Chong a little longer?
She rolled her eyes, her gaze shifting to the bag of sparklers she had placed on the bench. "But...we still have a box of sparklers left. Let's finish them before going home, okay?"
Let's stay a little longer if we can.
Jiang Wan raised her eyes and blinked at Zhou Chong, as if she were being coquettish.
Zhou Chong couldn't resist her expression. He turned his head to look at the bag of fireworks next to him, and smiled slightly. "Okay, let's go home after we've set them off."
The sparklers burned very quickly, so Jiang Wan didn't take out the whole box of sparklers at once, but took them out one by one.
Put one in, then take another one; this way you can put them in more slowly.
Zhou Chong held the umbrella in one hand and helped her light the fireworks with the other.
Sparks, like rays, suddenly burst forth before my eyes, accompanied by crackling sounds.
The two huddled under the same umbrella, Jiang Wan holding a sparkler, looking at the falling snow outside the umbrella through the fireworks.
"A timely snow promises a good harvest; something good is sure to happen this year." Jiang Wan smiled and winked at Zhou Chong. "For example, we'll both get into Tsinghua University."
Zhou Chong turned his head, looked at the tiny spark in her eyes, and smiled gently, "Yes, definitely."
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